Angels sign Joe Blanton for two years, $15M

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Angels are on the verge of signing free-agent starting pitcher Joe Blanton to a one-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

By Matt Snyder

Dec 5, 2012 at 7:45 pm ET • 1 min read

Joe Blanton was 10-13 with a 4.71 ERA between the Phillies and Dodgers in 2012. (US Presswire)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Angels have agreed to sign free-agent starting pitcher Joe Blanton to a two-year, $15-million deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Blanton, 31, was 10-13 with a 4.71 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 191 innings pitched last season for the Phillies (21 appearances, 20 starts) and Dodgers (10 starts).

The Angels have Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Tommy Hanson sitting atop their rotation, but after that it had been in a bit in flux with Garrett Richards and Jerome Williams. Now it appears Blanton slots as the fourth starter with Richards the five. The Angels had previously been connected with Kyle Lohse and Anibal Sanchez, too.

As far as retaining Zack Greinke, the Dodgers and Rangers appear to be the serious bidders.

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